Golf Forever Program

[vandyland]

Quick review as I have been using the Golf Forever Program for 3 months now and done over 50 workouts with it. 

The Overview
Golf Forever is an equipment bundle and an app that guides you through on Demand workouts. The goal of the workout series is to boost your flexibility, balance and power. The bundle I have comes with the following:

The Format
The app presents both a "Fundamental Warmup" and then a "Rotational Power" workout whenever you load the app. The goal of the warmup is to generally loosen you up, activate your core and balance and prepare you for either golf or the "Rotational Power" workout to follow. The Fundamental workout generally takes 10-15 minutes and Rotational Power (typically using the swing trainer shown above) takes about 15-30 min. So far I haven't repeated a workout and they seem to add new workouts constantly. Also, there are at least 6 different instructors that I have seen and they all have different energy and teaching styles so you can find one (or multiple) that you like. None of the workouts are "live" and they are all Video on Demand. 

As a 30 something year old former college athlete, the workouts are not overly strenuous like a HIIT workout or anything like that. Generally they can be performed almost anywhere using the equipment shown above AND there are equipment free workouts as well. That said, despite the workouts not being overly physically taxing they have given me solid results (see below). Also, I find that there are days when I am "too tired" to work out or it is the end of the day and I don't want to get revved up again only to have trouble going to sleep. That is where just doing a fundamental workout before bed is easy and still benefits my body.

App Interface

Clicking on "Today's Workout" takes you to a summary screen. The summary screen will tell you what equipment is needed and how long the total workout will take.

Now, if bounce over to the "Library" this is where you can select any of the workouts that might interest you either to add on to your daily workout or just to do as the daily workout. The "workouts" are arranged in various categories as shown below like "Pre-Round Warmups", "Fundamentals", "Rotational Power", "No equipment workouts", etc. So far I have only used the "Pre-Round Warmups", "Fundamentals" and "Rotational Power." 

Finally, there is the calendar where you can see your workout history. I find this helpful (a) because you can go back to workouts you like (though you can also "like" them by selecting the heart button) and (b) it encourages me to keep working out throughout the week. 

 

Thoughts so far:
The quality of the equipment is good, particularly the swing trainer. I sweat on that thing, beat it up and it is fairly indestructible. I rarely use the weighted balls on the end of the swing trainer because they are rarely involved in the workouts. The tension cord works well and has a handy door anchor as well. 

The actual workouts are a very good supplement to my workout routine. I generally do HIIT 3-4x a week and a heavy lift as well. I will do golf forever 3-4x a week at night, at home, and here's what I have noticed so far:
- First and foremost, my body feels better. I used to have back pain by the end of 18 holes or a range session and that is GONE. Like, never. Golf doesn't hurt me anymore. I attribute this to better core engagement, the swing trainer helping me with my off side and stretching under tension which lengthens and strengthens and all that. 
- Balance is better, no question
- Anti-rotation muscles are stronger. A lot of the GF programming is this idea of "anti-rotation" or resisting allowing your body to turn under tension which strengthens your stabilizing muscles, helps with balance, etc. There is obviously rotational exercises as well but the key is many of these moves will work almost your entire body. 
- I hit the ball slightly farther. My club head speed with a driver, on average is up 2-3 MPH without me trying to swing harder. I also feel like I have a higher ceiling of what my MAX swing speed can be but I don't ever try to swing all out in a round of golf. 

Cons/Comments
My negatives or cons are the following:
- You can't download the workouts for use off of a network or without using data. So if you are at a remote golf course you can't view the warmup videos to help you get ready
- There isn't really any indication of how "intense" the workout will be in the introduction so you don't always know what you are in for. Again, these are never SUPER intense but there is a varying amount of strain between workouts
- Sometimes the movements can get a bit complicated and hard to replicate
- Some workouts have a bit too much talking and explaining. This also varies based on instructor. 
- Occasionally they mislabel the workouts and what you need for them. 
- The price point, initially, seemed a bit steep to me but now that I do it I think it is certainly "worth it" but you gotta stick with it to see results. Doing 1 workout a week is not going to cut it. 

TLDR
Overall, I look forward to these workouts and can't imagine not having the swing trainer. If I lost it I would replace it tomorrow. This is not ideal for someone who is a hardcore workout person because it simply won't be intense enough. For someone like me who works out a decent amount it is a great supplement. For someone who is sedentary this is a great way to get moving without putting your body at risk or being overly strenuous. 

[cksurfdude]

This is great info .. thx!

Been kinda looking at a few golf specific home workout/flexibility programs, and kinda leaning towards this one .. it looks like one of the more complete packages (and still at a reasonable price).

[vandyland]

Yes, and I am happy to talk through the different ways it can be used. I will try to post some of the "moves" from the program. It isn't all "swinging" motions and the swing trainer forces you to be in asymmetrical positions as the end of the trainer is attached to the resistance band so it challenges your balance as well as ability to resist rotation or actually rotate under load. The biggest thing, for me, is that I didn't use bands often before this (typically weights) and the resistance band challenges you in a different way that a weight does while, at least in my experience, being "safer" since you control how strong the resistance is and going slow with the band feels more natural than trying to slam a weight around. 

[WaffleHouseTour]

Thanks for this.  Very timely with the winter/indoor/recover/rebuild season upon us.  I've been looking at this. Three questions:

1) how much space do you need for the trainer and the band? For someone who wants to do it at home, and has limited space - how much do you need?

2) other equipment used, or just their trainer and band?

3) cost per month?

 

[vandyland]

16 hours ago, WaffleHouseTour said:

Thanks for this.  Very timely with the winter/indoor/recover/rebuild season upon us.  I've been looking at this. Three questions:

1) how much space do you need for the trainer and the band? For someone who wants to do it at home, and has limited space - how much do you need?

2) other equipment used, or just their trainer and band?

3) cost per month?

1) For any workouts with the swing trainer you need enough room from the anchor point (can be a door jamb or anything you can put a carabiner around to gather tension on the resistance band. The band itself is probably 4 ft. I would say at a minimum you need 8-9 feet away from the anchor point and then 5-6 feet laterally. 

2) Through 50+ workouts I have used exercise bands with handles (separate from the GolfForever band though it comes with handles), a foam roller, a towel, a swiss ball (only used twice so far). 

3) The cost per month is not cheap. If you buy the swing trainer you get a month free and then it is either $24.99 per month OR $200 for an annual sub. Personally, I thought that was a steep amount of money to commit to this but, to me, it has been worth it in hindsight. I have an annual subscription because after the trial period I was fairly certain I would use it for the next year (so far I have 3 months in and averaging 4 workouts per week). 

[cksurfdude]

I see Justin Leonard in one of the screenshots above... I recall reading that he credited this program as a big part of him getting prepped to play competitive golf again. Pretty good endorsement.

I may jump in - compared to a TPI coach or a place near me that specializes in golf fitness (and PT), the sub price isn't too bad...

[Lmerrick]

On 11/4/2022 at 6:39 PM, cksurfdude said:

I see Justin Leonard in one of the screenshots above... I recall reading that he credited this program as a big part of him getting prepped to play competitive golf again. Pretty good endorsement.

I may jump in - compared to a TPI coach or a place near me that specializes in golf fitness (and PT), the sub price isn't too bad...

Fit for Golf is another good program to take a look at. 
 

 

[cksurfdude]

5 hours ago, Lmerrick said:

Fit for Golf is another good program to take a look at. 

Yeah I've seen that one .. will take a look, thx 

[Bucky CC]

I started the Golfforever program 2 weeks ago and am 10 workouts in.  @vandyland hit the nail on the head with the big pros and cons.  While I greatly enjoy the golf specific workouts, it does seem a little light if you are used to a more rigorous fitness program.  I ordered the heavy fitness band so hopefully that will amp up the intensity/difficulty a bit.  If they incorporated a few more heavy intensity workouts this could be a near perfect program.

One thing I would add on is the Golfforever support team is fantastic.  I bought the training kit from Golf Galaxy and had one of the plastic carabiner clips break within the first few workouts.  I emailed them and in less than an hour I had a reply stating they would send better quality carabiners along with a carry bag at no cost.  Nice!

 

[CarlH]

@vandyland  The monthly/annual cost doesn't bother me as much as the cost of the training bar...seriously?  $200 bucks for a bar and some bands is a bit steep.  I have heard that's it's high quality and that's all fine and dandy, but it's still fairly steep.  Anyway, are the training sessions utilizing the bar mainly or do they require investing in further devices to supplement the training?  Is the training bar required for most of the exercises?  

I really like the concept behind the program, but the initial investment (plus another $200 for the annual because if you're going to pay $200 just for the bar, not getting the training videos seems wasteful) is a bit off-putting.

[Bucky CC]

8 minutes ago, CarlH said:

@vandyland  The monthly/annual cost doesn't bother me as much as the cost of the training bar...seriously?  $200 bucks for a bar and some bands is a bit steep.  I have heard that's it's high quality and that's all fine and dandy, but it's still fairly steep.  Anyway, are the training sessions utilizing the bar mainly or do they require investing in further devices to supplement the training?  Is the training bar required for most of the exercises?  

I really like the concept behind the program, but the initial investment (plus another $200 for the annual because if you're going to pay $200 just for the bar, not getting the training videos seems wasteful) is a bit off-putting.

You can select what equipment you have and the daily workout will automatically adjust.  I already had everything but the swing trainer, but that is the main piece of equipment you'll need.

I agree the $200 initially seemed a bit steep.  There are options out there though ranging from a $25 resistance band bar on Amazon up to the $230 TRX Rip trainer (which was developed by one of the Golfforever fitness instructors).  I bought mine at Golf Galaxy for $160 using Scorecard reward points.

 

[Doug Thirston Howe]

As someone with limited funds, I am wondering about the feasibility of buying the equipment, and using the 30 days of free app to pick out a series of useful workouts which, if they work for me, simply continue using those workouts without investing in the recurring monthly fees. 

[Bucky CC]

Just a quick update on this.  I'm 4 months into the GolfForever program and still going strong with at least 5 workouts a week.  The biggest difference by far for me has been purchasing the heavy band.  It's taken the easier stretching/flexibility movements and turned them into true strength exercises.

Also saw a nice little shoutout to the program in Netflix's Full Swing when Scottie Scheffler (paid endorser) and Justin Thomas (turned the branding away from the camera since they don't pay him) were both using the swing trainer.

[Dee 8ch]

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Edited April 15, 2023 by Dee 8ch
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[Shinnman]

I found that they do talk a lot as you mention and then only show you one rep, which isn’t helpful if you are new to this.  Have they changed that at all?

[Dooby]

Appreciate the in-depth write up. I’ve been wondering about using this as a supplement to my normal workout routine. My concerns were cost, time, and actually if the equipment/routines are unique enough to be worth purchasing.


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[Bucky CC]

2 hours ago, Shinnman said:

I found that they do talk a lot as you mention and then only show you one rep, which isn’t helpful if you are new to this.  Have they changed that at all?

It really depends on the instructor.  If you have a workout with Troy Van Biezen (Scheffler's performance coach) he talks a lot.  Almost all of his workouts are great, but I've found myself doing extra reps or jogging in place while he was talking.

Most instructors show one rep and then get into the actual set.  For really complicated moves I've found myself getting the hang of the motion while they moved on and then going back 15-30 seconds on the app to get back in sync with the program.

38 minutes ago, Dooby said:

Appreciate the in-depth write up. I’ve been wondering about using this as a supplement to my normal workout routine. My concerns were cost, time, and actually if the equipment/routines are unique enough to be worth purchasing.

Cost is definitely on the higher side when you consider the $200 initial purchase along with $200 yearly subscription.  Time-wise most workouts are between 25 and 40 minutes long if you stick with the workout of the day.  If you pick something from the library you could get by with as little as 15 minutes a day.  Someone mentioned before you could always buy the swing trainer bundle and then cancel the app subscription after 30 days once you have a few workouts written down that you like.

Off the top of my head I would say about 75% of the daily workouts use the swing trainer and are unique to anything else you would find online.  The remaining workouts utilize bands, dumbbells, or just bodyweight similar to many other workout programs.

Obviously any workout program is only going to be as good as the effort you put into it.  I've tried Fit for Golf, Beachbody, and many other workout programs.  This has probably been the most helpful and enjoyable to my overall golf game.

[Jake81]

Just got started with the system ,  really like the equipment and the move they show you

 

I'm an concerned with the overwhelming variety and random workouts assigned each day.  My style to be to find a core group of workouts that cover all bases and work them repeatedly.  This leads to quality and intensity 

 

For those using the system and doing "Todays workout"  how often to the workouts repeat? are there any you dont like and skip?  What are your favorites

 

For those handpicking your workouts what are your favorites and how many do you use in your rotation?

 

 

thanks

[Kammann09]

Thank you for the helpful review.  I have 2 HS golf athletes, as well as my wife being an active golfer.  Would we all be able to use one log in?  Or would that throw off the daily workouts?  Can the content be casted to a smart tv, or chromecast?

[Jake81]

34 minutes ago, Kammann09 said:

Thank you for the helpful review.  I have 2 HS golf athletes, as well as my wife being an active golfer.  Would we all be able to use one log in?  Or would that throw off the daily workouts?  Can the content be casted to a smart tv, or chromecast?

If users test at the same level it would be pretty easy to just repeat the workout of the day,  if you test at different levels the user will only be assigned to 1 level I believe

 

I use Airplay to an AppleTv it it works very well from inside the app,  dont have to Airplay the whole phone

 

 

[Kammann09]

2 minutes ago, Jake81 said:

If users test at the same level it would be pretty easy to just repeat the workout of the day,  if you test at different levels the user will only be assigned to 1 level I believe

 

I use Airplay to an AppleTv it it works very well from inside the app,  dont have to Airplay the whole phone

 

 

Thanks for your response!!  Ok, good to know it works on airplay.  I unfortunately dont have a tv that receives airplay in my workout area.  Do you know if it will cast to a google chromecast?

[Jake81]

I believe so

 

 

[vandyland]

Also, on the workouts, @Kammann09, you can search the library and it will say things like "back tees" "middle tees" "front tees" "all levels" so you can get some sense of how difficult the workout will be. I will say they don't always give you a good indication of how intense a workout will be on the front end. There are some cardio ones that will really get you sweating and there are others that feel like a quick yoga warmup and then almost everything else in between. 

[LukeMeyers]

It makes sense that if users test at the same level, repeating the workout of the day would be convenient. And if there are different levels, being assigned to just one level can help maintain consistency. BTW, using Airplay to an Apple TV sounds like a smart idea, especially if it works seamlessly within the app itself. No need to Airplay the whole phone! On another note, if you're planning a golf trip, you should definitely check out golftravel.tours golftravel.tours. They offer some amazing options to explore the world of golf while traveling.

Edited June 9, 2023 by LukeMeyers

[mauismom]

great info here - thanks.

my question is does it make sense to share a subscription or is it highly personalized?  Could my husband and I share?

TIA

[Bucky CC]

On 7/20/2023 at 2:50 PM, mauismom said:

great info here - thanks.

my question is does it make sense to share a subscription or is it highly personalized?  Could my husband and I share?

TIA

The program supposedly advances the more daily workouts you do, but you could easily share a subscription if you don't care about the weekly score rankings or one person wants to do workouts from the library instead of the prescribed daily.  I've been using it about 8 months and still find it valuable.

[Shrek74]

This is a great review, thank you for taking the time to do this.

Question: how easy is it to take the system to the gym and use it there? I live in a golf/retirement community and have a nice wellness center that's usually not too busy in the late afternoon when I go after work. I was thinking about taking it with me to do a regular workout then finish with this. Thoughts?

[vandyland]

23 hours ago, Shrek74 said:

Question: how easy is it to take the system to the gym and use it there? I live in a golf/retirement community and have a nice wellness center that's usually not too busy in the late afternoon when I go after work. I was thinking about taking it with me to do a regular workout then finish with this. Thoughts?

Extremely easy. The bag itself, with everything in it, is about the length of a 9 iron and weighs maybe 7 pounds all-in. The swing trainer secures with a carabiner that can secure to a host of different things and your gym might already have resistance bands so you wouldn't even have to bring those. Basically just the swing trainer. I took it into my gym most days and I would say the *only* issue I had was since the swing trainer is fairly long I couldn't fit this in a 1/2 locker. But in terms of portability it is made to be packed up and moved constantly. No issues there.  

[AngryAsian]

Great reviews.  More informative than the website.  Looks like I'll be busy this winter.